Skills and Entrepreneurship 47
Executive and personal assistants as strategic partners
Lindsay Taylor believes that your most valuable business asset might not be who you think It Is
When business leaders talk about the people who drive growth, the conversation usually turns to sales teams, finance directors or operational specialists. Rarely does the executive assistant( EA) or personal assistant( PA) get a mention.
That ' s a huge oversight.
Support
Great leadership isn ' t just about having brilliant executives. It ' s about creating the right support around them so they can perform at their best. And there ' s an exceptional EA or PA making that happen.
The role has changed dramatically. It ' s no longer just about managing diaries or organising meetings. Today ' s EAs are trusted business partners, problem-solvers and sounding boards, with a unique perspective across the organisation. They don ' t just support executives; they help them lead better.
Time is the one thing you can ' t buy back
Every business owner knows that time is precious. Yet it ' s surprising how many senior leaders still spend hours juggling calendars, chasing updates, answering routine emails or organising meetings that someone else could handle.
A great EA doesn ' t just take jobs off an executive ' s to-do list. They create the headspace for better leadership.
By protecting time and managing priorities, they free leaders to focus on what matters: making decisions, building relationships and growing the business.
That ' s where the return lies: better decisions, quicker action and more time spent working on the business rather than getting buried in the day-to-day.
The people who connect the dots
One thing I ' ve always admired about experienced EAs is the unique perspective they have across an organisation.
While departments naturally focus on their own goals, EAs often have visibility across the whole business. They spot where priorities overlap, where communication could be better and where issues are brewing.
They ' re often the people quietly connecting the dots.
I ' ve lost count of the executives who ' ve told me their EA was the first to notice something wasn ' t quite right or suggest a solution.
That ' s not luck. It ' s because they ' re involved in so many moving parts while maintaining an objective view of what ' s going on.
Trust, emotional intelligence and connection
The relationship between an executive and their EA is built on trust, but also on emotional intelligence and human connection.
A great EA understands how their executive thinks, when to challenge and when to listen. They read the room, understand relationships and adapt. That level of connection doesn ' t come from software. It develops through experience, empathy and trust.
Businesses are investing in AI to streamline processes, automate repetitive tasks and save time and money. That ' s exciting, and EAs can help identify where technology can make a real difference.
But while you ' re investing in AI, don ' t overlook the human connection. Technology can process information; a great EA understands context. AI can schedule a meeting; an EA knows who needs to be in the room and why.
The best partnerships combine both.
Investing in your EA is investing in your business
Here ' s something I think many organisations get wrong. They ' re happy to invest in leadership development but often overlook the people supporting those leaders every day.
If your EA is managing projects, handling confidential information, influencing stakeholders and representing your business, shouldn ' t they have opportunities to develop those skills too?
Organisations that value their EAs invest in training, mentoring and strategic conversations. They see someone who increases the effectiveness of their leadership team.
One question
Whether you already have an EA or rely on a PA, ask yourself: am I making the most of this role?
If the answer is " probably not ", you ' re certainly not alone.
The most effective EAs don ' t just make life easier for busy executives. They help leaders make better decisions, improve communication, protect valuable time and create space for businesses to grow.
When you start seeing your EA or PA as a strategic partner rather than an administrative resource, everything changes. And that ' s not just good leadership. It ' s good business.
Lindsay Taylor FInstAM is director of Your Excellency Limited
www. yourexcellency. co. uk